PART A
The roots of the Aditya Birla Group (ABG) date back to the 19th century, sown by the group’s founding father, Mr Ghanshyam Das Birla, who also played a major role in India’s struggle for independence. Through the Indian independence struggle, Mr Ghanshyam set up critical industries like textile and fibre, aluminium, cement and chemicals. The same zeal was passed on to his grandson, Mr Aditya Birla who became one of the first Indian industrialists to expand abroad with plants in South East Asia, Philippines and Egypt. As a loyal consumer of Aditya Birla Group products, I resonate with the 5 major values – Integrity, Commitment, Passion, Seamlessness and speed that the group strongly believes in.
Most importantly, although ABG is one of the largest conglomerates in the country, it believes in its founding values and is stuck to its roots. It not just aims at profit maximization but works towards building a sustainable Indian society by promoting and providing opportunities to the weaker sections of the society. Working towards the development of 5000 villages, creating sustainable livelihood programmes and improving the infrastructure across various communities in India, truly portrays how ABG transcends the conventional boundaries of business. Being the largest producer of Viscose staple fibre in the world, ABG has laid a strong foundation across continents. Today, ABG is identified as a premium global conglomerate who is truly a global powerhouse across sectors including metals, textiles, carbon black, telecom and cement.
ABG brands such as Pantaloons, Allen Solly, Peter England and Forever 21 have become a part of my daily life. Over the years, these have definitely become my go to brands in the Fashion & Retail segment. Brands like Superwrapp and Freshwrapp are also a few of my preferred brands within the ABG group.
PART B
We all face challenges in our lives; tough circumstances when the odds are stacked against us. But I believe that with positivity and the right attitude, we’re capable of overcoming any challenge we face. I have faced a few challenges over the years but the constant support of my family and well-wishers motivated me to overcome the challenges.
Having given my first theatrical performance at the age of 4, I am a trained classical dancer and a performing artist. A Kathak Visharad (Distinction) from Akhil Bhartiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya. Since childhood, I’ve engaged myself in numerous co-curricular activities that shaped me into a confident individual. Being competitive and academically inclined, I have always maintained a good balance between my academic and extra-curricular activities. But Time management was one of the greatest challenges I faced through the years.
Along with the difficulty of managing time, came my fear for failure. Although I never hesitated to try something new or develop a new skill, I always wanted to excel at every task I undertook and that added pressure. It was during my graduation at Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication-UG that I realized that in order to enjoy the process of learning, I had to learn to let go of a few things. But I did overcome my challenge of time management. With an 80 member Rotaract Club to preside over, a dissertation to submit, and an advertising club to head; 24 hours a day were falling short. But I sailed through the year and thoroughly enjoyed the process. I graduated as the Institute topper and was appreciated by the Rotary Club for all the projects that I initiated. Today, I proudly say that when it comes to handling pressure, I believe I can be stretched to the limits without recoiling. Overcoming my challenges has encouraged me to remain consistent, hardworking and to put in my best at every task I undertake.